Window regulator for a vehicle and method of assembling the same

Abstract

A window regulator for a vehicle has a lift arm pivotally mounted on a door panel of a vehicle. A gear plate including teeth on the periphery thereof is connected to one end of the lift arm. A driving device engages with the teeth and moves the gear plate. A movable rail is connected to a window glass, the movable rail engaging with the other end of the lift arm. Holes are disposed in one end of the lift arm and convex portions are disposed in said gear plate, the convex portions being inserted into said holes and pressed into a flat shape.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A window regulator in a vehicle comprising: a lift arm pivotally mounted on a door panel of a vehicle;   a gear plate including teeth on a periphery thereof and connected to one end of said lift arm;   driving means engaging with said teeth for moving said gear plate and said lift arm; and   a movable rail to which a window glass may be fixed, said movable rail engaging with an other end of said lift arm,   wherein aligned pairs of recesses and projections are formed by deformation of said gear plate, said recesses having a diameter greater than that of said projections, wherein holes are formed in the lift arm, and wherein the projections extend through said holes and have flattened ends so as to connect said gear plate and said lift arm.   
     
     
       2. A method of assembling a window regulator in a vehicle, the window regulator including a lift arm pivotally mounted on a door panel of a vehicle, a gear plate including teeth on a periphery thereof and connected to one end of said lift arm, driving means engaging with said teeth for moving said gear plate and said lift arm, and a movable rail to which a window glass may be fixed, said movable rail engaging with an other end of said lift arm, said method comprising the steps of: using a punch and a die having a die hole with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the punch to form an aligned pair of a recess and a projection by deformation of said gear plate, said recess having a diameter greater than that of said projection;   mounting said gear plate on a lower die having a convex portion having a diameter greater than that of said projection of said gear plate, such that the convex portion of said lower die is housed in the recess of said gear plate;   extending said projection of said gear plate through a hole formed in the lift arm; and   flattening the end of said projection of said gear plate extended through the hole, while backing up the gear plate with the convex portion of the lower die, so as to connect said gear plate and said lift arm.